Celebrate Mother’s Day With Mother Nature

The Morton Arboretum Offers Special Mother’s Day Dining and Fun Activities

LISLE, IL (May 1, 2007) – Thank Mom for all she does by treating her to a special dining experience at The Morton Arboretum, featuring omelette stations and other treats in the Ginkgo Restaurant, overlooking beautiful Meadow Lake. With any luck at all, Mom can avoid the kitchen all day long, as the whole family enjoys this wonderful spring day among the flowering trees and natural wonders in the Arboretum’s 1,700 acres.

Indoor dining service, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., features made-to-order omelettes, creme brulee French toast, a morning oatmeal bar, midday salad and soup bar, and special sweets and desserts. The outdoor Ginkgo Grill opens at 11 a.m. and offers burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and more treats. The Ginkgo Restaurant and Ginkgo Cafe also offer pre-made “Grab and Go” items if you’d like to venture out for a picnic. All menu selections are priced per-item.

After dining, “The Picture Man” will capture your Mother’s Day memories in a wonderful outdoor setting. Photo packages start at $25 and take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., no advance appointment needed.

Kids can make something special for Mom. Visit the Children’s Garden for some great family fun including the special drop-in activity “Beautiful Bouquets.” Make a miniature bouquet using a mix of dried and fresh flowers. There’s also “Fingerprint Flowers” in which kids can show off their natural artistic skills to create postcards with beautiful blossoms. Both of these activities are free and are held from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Plan some extra time to take a tour while you’re here. Let expert guides take you on the free guided walk “Rhodozaleas and Adendrons – Plants on Acid” (2 – 3 p.m.).  Or, take the special “Art in Nature Tram Tour” (3 – 4 p.m.; tickets purchased at the Visitor Center Desk). Stroll up the Pine Family Trail anytime of the day to see the wonderful woven wood sculpture “Xanadu” by internationally-acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,057 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, Central Time. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contacts:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it